Pageant expert weighs in on Miss Universe results
As expected, many Filipino fans were disappointed with Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados’ top 20 finish in the recently concluded Miss Universe pageant (uminit ulo ng mga
bakla!). A lot of them wonder what could have led to the Cebuana’s early elimination in the pageant (nag-sick leave pa naman yung iba para makanuod!).
Well, WTFu sought the opinon of widely acknowledged pageant expert and communications executive Joee Guilas on Gazini’s performance and more. (Naku, pang Miss Universe kung sumagot ito!)
What is your reaction to the outcome of this year’s Miss Universe Pageant, specifically on Miss Philippines’ exclusion from the top 10? (’Yung sana naman binigyan ng chance maka rampa pa!)
“I’d say things turned out the way most people predicted them to go. I’m not saying that I expected Gazini not to make it to the top 10. However, what is clear, right from the very start, is that it will not be as easy for her to make the cut this year given the quality of the ladies she competed with. The 2019 edition of Miss Universe is a highlycompetitive year. Checking the candidates’ bios, you’ll really see substance, not fluff, in what they have achieved so far. Gazini’s impeccable beauty cannot be denied and that’s precisely what
made her penetrate the top 20. Iba pa rin talaga ang gandang Pinay!”(Gusto ko rin ma-penetrate... ’yung mga pageants
next year!) What do you think led to her early elimination? (Siya ba ang may mali o ’yung umawit sa intermission sa pageant?!)
“I would attribute it to what I call the ‘Catriona Factor.’ I have already talked about this in previous interviews and I’d say it’s really what spelled the difference for Gazini. As Boy Abunda said in one interview, ‘Pia’s victory was a surprise win while Catriona’s was a sure win.’
“I couldn’t agree more to that. On top of her natural gift of gab, Catriona left no stones unturned when she prepared for Miss Universe last year. She came to the pageant really prepared to claim a crown that’s rightfully hers. Exceeding Catriona’s feat will never be easy.
“As for Gazini, she totally excelled where people expected her to. She killed her rivals during Saturday’s preliminaries through her allure, knockout body and natural grace onstage. She was a fierce competitor on that small ballroom stage in Atlanta. She really looked like the perfect cover girl and runway diva who could easily snatch the crown if it were held during the Trump era.
“However, the Miss Universe Organization was also very clear in emphasizing that, after having Catriona, what they’re now looking for is not a model but a speaker, a spokesperson.”
(Bilang ang daming portion na may final statements ha!) What do you think of South Africa’s victory? (At kung may effect ba ’yun sa isang S. Africa... si Susan... Africa! Chos!)
“Zozibini Tunzi as Miss Universe will have very big shoes to fill after inheriting the title from Catriona Gray. I am happy that she won. Her victory was
a trailblazing win as far as pageantry is concerned — not just because of her skin color but on the kind of beauty she represents. If I am not mistaken, she may be the first or one of the very few women who sported a short hair to ever win a crown from a major international pageant. I love it that she is able to break stereotypes and I do believe she’ll do an amazing job as Miss Universe.” (Wow close kayo ni ate?!)
How do you think will the Filipino pageant fans react to the outcome of this year’s pageant? (Na sana tigilan na ang mga walang ‘walang magpapagupit
sa parlor’ jokes! Ang luma!)
“I’d say they are taking it well. I was at Resorts World Manila hosting a Miss Universe Viewing Party when we witnessed Gazini out of the competition after the Top 10 was called. Of course there was silence after that. People were saddened by her elimination. However, it didn’t take long for them to recover and then cheer on the eventual winner, Miss South Africa, whom they thought was very deserving.
“Besides, Gazini will not be coming home empty-handed. The Miss Universe Organization later clarified that it was indeed the Philippines that won Best National Costume. Congratulations to her and her designer Cary Santiago for that feat.” (Na ’di man lang s’ya nabigyan ng moment d’yan sa award na
’yan ha!)
What do you think of the news that the Miss Universe franchise will
no longer be under the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) and will now be managed by a separate Miss Universe Philippines Organization? (Pwede ba makisali d’yan?!)
“It’s all for the good of Philippine pageantry. We should forever be grateful for what the BPCI has contributed to Philippine pageantry, giving us a total of four Miss Universes in the process. However, I am sure that our sash in Miss Universe is in safe hands with Jonas Gaffud and former Miss Universe runner-up Shamcey Supsup-Lee at the helm.
This is the team that is keeping our placement streak in Miss Universe uninterrupted, so far. I’m sure they’ll try their best to keep it that way.”(Papa-train ako d’yan
kina Jonas at Shamcey!)
(MR.FU hosts on 91.5 Win Radio, 9pm-12mn, Mondays to Fridays. Twitter/IG: @mrfu_mayganon. FB: Mr.Fu the Star DJ. Youtube: WTFu. For FU artworks: @theartoffu on ig)